If you dream of the Caribbean sea, but you don’t feel like spending 12 hours on a plane, you’re lucky: there are certain Caribbean beaches in Europe that will take your breath away!
All along the European shores, especially the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, there are perfect postcard-like beaches with fine sand, turquoise water and amazing natural beauty waiting for you.
As a great beach lover, I never stop travelling to new sea destinations, so let me share with you some secret best beaches in Europe that I loved most!
1. Spiaggia di Porto Giunco – Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy
Incredible sea in Villasimius in Sardinia, Italy
My personal No. 1 among the Caribbean beaches in Europe. Villasimius (on the cover photo) is a dream. It is a long, wide, extremely beautiful natural beach in a frame of dunes, beautiful rocks and a tower (that the cover photo was captured from), and a lagoon with… pink flamingoes! Paradise.
It has absolutely nothing to envy the Caribbean, as it’s also so vast that it always feels quite empty, wild and just gorgeous. White and extremely fine sand, perfectly turquoise warm and calm sea, some refined, elegant beach bars, variety of water sports options make it perfection from every point of view. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. You have to see it to believe it.
Location
Italy, South of Sardinia, 51 km from Cagliari
Spiaggia di Porto Giunco, 09049 Villasimius, Cagliari, Italy
From Cagliari: Full-Day Villasimius Beaches Tour from 44 EUR
2. Santa Giulia, Corsica, France
Perfectly cristalline sea just like a swimming pool in Santa Giulia beach in Corsica, France
Corsica is definitely one of the most beautiful places in Europe – and on Earth. Everything about is enchanting: nature, sea, mountains and amazing architecture. Corsica has a lot of fantastic beaches, and for me the best one is Santa Giulia in the south of the island. It’s a secluded bay with water so calm and tranquil that it seems an enormous swimming pool. It’s beauty is uncomparable – it’s one of those places that stay in your heart.
Location
South of Corsica, below Porto-Vecchio
Santa Giulia, 20137 Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France
Medieval Bonifacio: Full-Day Tour from Porto Vecchio
3. Olüdeniz, Fethiye, Turkey
Olüdeniz beach in Fethiye, Turkey
Turkey may be considered a European country or not, depending on the criteria, but I include it for it has some of the best Caribbean beaches in Europe.
Olüdeniz is incredible! It’s one of the most spectacular beaches I’ve ever seen. A cape of golden sand surrounded by high green mountains, colourful flowers and butterflies, the feeling of being at the end of the world. An unforgettable experience. It’s an extremely beautiful and romantic spot which awakens the senses.
Location
South-West Turkey, Fethiye
Ölüdeniz Mahallesi, 48340 Fethiye/Muğla, Turkey
Full-Day Lunch Cruise in the Gocek Gulf From Fethiye
Blue Lagoon Ölüdeniz Tandem Paragliding from Fethiye
4. Lagoa de Albufeira, Portugal
Sandy horizon of Lagoa de Albufeira, Sesimbra
The vastness of this spectacular beach is mind-blowing. It’s like a desert of delicate white sand, with a lovely turquoise shallow lagoon shimmering in the ever-lasting sun, and the very long beaches spreading endlessly along beautiful dunes. Paradise.
Read more in The Best Beaches near Lisbon
Location
South from Lisbon, near a pretty town of Sesimbra.
Lagoa de Albufeira, Sesimbra, Portugal
Lisbon: Arrábida Natural Park and Sesimbra Day Trip
5. Gjipe Beach, Albania
View of Gjipe beach, Albania
The beach of Gjipe Canyon is hidden behind high mountains and not easy to reach, but its spectacular beauty is making up for the effort! And the path leading to it, with wonderful sea views is a pure pleasure. The beach is natural, with white sand and perfect water.
Read more in What to See in Albania – Best Places To Visit
Location
Albania, the town closest to Gjipe Canyon is Dhërmi.
Plazhi i Gjipesë, Albania
6. Playa de Bolonia, Tarifa, Spain
Playa de Bolonia – Tarifa, Spain – one of the best beaches in Europe
One of the finest beaches in Spain! Playa de Bolonia is an impressively vast area of splendid high dunes and endless fields of fine sand. This wonderful spot is located in the south of Spain near Tarifa in the province of beautiful Cadiz.
Read more in Best Beaches in Spain
Read about 15 Most Romantic Towns in Spain
Location
Spain, near town of Tarifa.
Playa de Bolonia, 11391 Cadiz, Spain
Best Beaches in Europe
We are preparing an extensive article on the best beaches in Europe in variety of different countries, and a series of guides of the best beaches in each country, so stay tuned!
Which Caribbean-looking beaches would you add to this list? Add them in the comments! And if you like this article – share it!
Wow, these beaches are really inviting, I love this Villasimius in Italy, I just have to see it! Great article, superb photos, thank you!
Thank you Claire. Villasimius is one of the most paradise-looking places I’ve ever seen. You will love it, it’s truly unique. I will write more about Sardinia in the next month, so stay tuned!